Portable sawmill lifting and dogging apparatus



Fig.

March 5, 1957 2,783,791

R. L. LINK PORTABLE SAW-MILL. LIFTING AND DOGGINC APPARATUS 4Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed April 20, 1954 Richard L. Link INVENTOR.

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R. L. LINK March 5, 1957 PORTABLE SAW-MILL. LIFTING AND noccmc APPARATUSFiled April 2o, 1954 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 PORTABLE SAW-MILL LIFTING ANDDOGGING APPARATUS Filed April 20, 1954 R. L. LINK March 5, 1957 4Sheets-Sheet 3 FEM mm m a .s mm vm vv mm i QR HWILIII lll ll l|||Richard L. L in/r INVENTOR.

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R. L. LINK 2,783,791

PORTABLE SAW-MILL LIFTING AND DQGGING APPARATUS March 5, 1957 4Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed April 20, 1954 Richard L. Lin/r INVENTOR.

. BY WflWfiMLmm United States Patent PORTABLE SAWMILL LIFTING ANDDOGGING APPARATUS Richard L. Link, Star City, Ind.

Application April 20, 1954, Serial No. 424,398

3 Claims. (Cl. 143-92) This invention relates generally to wood cutting,and pertains more particularly to an improved form of portable sawmill.

A primary object of this invention is to provide an improved sawmillstructure of the portable type wherein the entire cutting operation isperformed on an elevated platform which forms the bed of a poweredvehicle or a trailer and wherein elevator mechanism is provided fortransferring logs from ground level to the level of a sawmill carriagemovably mounted on the platform. 1

Another object of this invention is to provide-an improved sawmillconstruction of the character described above wherein the elevatormechanism is articulated so as to be collapsed to a stored ortransporting position.

Still another object of this invention is to provide an improved sawmillconstruction incorporating a novel log holding dog mechanism on thecarriage thereof for receiving logs from the elevator mechanism andholding the same in fixed relation on the carriage.

These together with other objects and advantages which will becomesubsequently apparent reside in the details of construction andoperation as more fully hereinafter described and claimed, referencebeing had to the accompanying drawings forming a part hereof, whereinlike numerals refer to like parts throughout, and in which:

Figure 1 is a plan wew of a portion of the sawmill constructed inaccordance with this invention;

Figure 2 is a transverse vertical section taken substantially along theplane of section line 22 of Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a plan view of a portion of the mechanism shown in Figure 1,but with the elevator mechanism removed;

Figure 4 is a sectional view showing the elevator mechanism in storedposition;

Figure 5 is an enlarged transverse vertical section taken substantiallyalong the plane of section line 5-5 in Figure 1;

Figure 6 is an enlarged fragmentary elevational view showing the mannerof connecting the elevator mechanism to the sawmill chassis;

Figure 7 (Sheet 2) is an enlarged elevational view of the hydraulic dogassembly;

Figure 8 is a further enlarged plan view of the assembly shown in Figure7;

Figure 9 (Sheet 3) is a further enlarged end view of the hydraulic dogassembly with the end portion of arms 70 removed and shown in section;

Figure 10 is a further enlarged vertical section taken substantiallyalong the plane of section line 1010 in Figure 7;

Figure 11 is a further enlarged horizontal section taken substantiallyalong the plane of section line 11-11 in Figure 9; and

Figure 12 (Sheet 4) is an enlarged perspective view of a portion of thedog assembly.

Referring now more particularly to Figure 2, reference 2,783,791Patented Mar. 5, 1957 numerals 10 and 12 indicate a pair of spacedchannel members which form the main frame of the portable sawmillassembly and to which are attached the wheel assemblies 14 by means ofwhich the sawmill is supported for movement along the ground, it beingappreciated that a suitable source of power, such as an internalcombustion engine (not shown) may be mounted upon the sawmill frame fordriving one of the wheel assemblies. Although not herein shown, asuitable conventional saw assembly such as that disclosed, for example,by the patent to Johnson, No. 2,574,974, is suitably mounted on theportable sawmill assembly frame.

The frame members 10 and 12 have a plurality of transverse frame members16 secured thereto which form a platform on the upper surface of thevehicle which is partially covered by the planking members 18 in themanner shown. Along one side of the sawmill and disposed longitudinallythereof are a pair of rail members 20 and 22 upon which the wheels 24 ofa carriage assembly indicated generally by the reference character 26are engaged. The carriage consists essentially of the longitudinal framemembers 28 and 30 interconnected by cross-frame members 32 some of whichform supports for the axles 34 of the previously mentioned wheels 24-.

The carriage includes the usual control members for the operatorstanding thereon, and includes the set works control member 36 (Figurel) and similar mechanisms which are conventionally provided in this art.Additionally, the carriage is provided with a pair of longitudinallyspaced transverse rail members 38, 39 and 40 which overlie thelongitudinal frame members 28 and 30 and are, as will be seen mostclearly in Figure 9, of I-beam configuration to provide rails or guidesfor the hydraulic dog assemblies, indicated. generally by the referencecharacter 42.

As will be seen most clearly in Figures 7-9, each hydraulic dog assemblyconsists of a standard or knee 44 having an elongated base portion 46provided with T-groove 48 in its undersurface to embrace the upperflange 50 of the rails 38, 39 and 4t), and it is to be noted that thesestandards are of plate-like configuration, having transverse stiffeningflanges 52 at their forward ends.

Each standard 44 is provided along its forward edge with an upstandingvertical extension 54 which has longitudinally extending side flangeportions 56 and 5% disposed in spaced relation to the standard plate 44,as will be seen most clearly in Figure 11. A carrier member 60 isvertically slidable on the extension 54 and is provided with spaced legportions 62 and 64 having inturned finger portions 66 and 68 to embracethe extension 54 to effect the vertical sliding movement. The carriermember 60 is provided with a horizontally extending rectangular boretherethrough which slidably receives the arm 70 which carries at one endthereof a depending spike dog member 72. The upper edge of the arm 70 isprovided with a series of notches 74 which are selectively registerablebeneath a slot 76 in the carrier such that the finger 78 of the lockinglever 89 pivoted to the carrier by means of the pin 82 may engagethrough the slot 76 within one of the notches 74 to selectively positionthe dog 72 with respect to the carrier, as will be seen most clearly inFigure 10.

A link member 84 is pivoted at one end, as at 86, to the carrier 60 andextends rearwardly therefrom in spaced substantially parallel relationto the rear web portion 88 of the standard 44. An upstanding bracketmember 90 is pivoted at its lower end as at 92 to the web 88 and at itsupper end, as at 94, to an intermediate portion of the link 84 toprovide a fulcrum for the link. The rear end of the link is providedwith depending bracket arms 96 carrying a pivot pin 98 therebetween towhich the piston rod 100 of a hydraulic jack assembly 102 is secured,the lower end of the jack member being pivotally connected, as at 104,to the web 88. In this manner, it will be evident that manipulation ofsuitable controls for introducing fluids under pressure to the, line1536 or 198 of the jack assembly will cause vertical sliding movement ofthe carrier on the extension 54.

Each guide 38, 39 and 46 journals a drive shaft 110 therein to which issecured a pinion member 112 engaging with the rack teeth 114 formed onthe lower edge of the base 46 for selectively positioning the hydraulicdog assemblies transversely with respect to the carriage assembly.

Referring now more particularly to Figures 1-6, the

elevator mechanism is indicated generally by the reference character11.6 and will be seen to consist of a pair of boom assemblies 118 and120 disposed transversely of and projecting laterally from the platformof the sawmill. The booms 113 and 1253 are interconnected forsimultaneous movement by the cross-pieces E22 and 124 and it will benoted that each boom assembly. consists of longitudinal stringer members126 disposed in spaced parallel relation and provided with forwardextension portions 123 hingedly secured thereto, as by the hinge members130. Each boom assembly is of truss-like configuration and includes thelower diagonal brace portions 132; and 134, the latter being separable,as at 136, and provided thereat with any suitable means for selectivelylocking the pieces together to provide a rigid and unitary structurewhen the boom assemblies are in operative position. In respect to this,reference is had most particularly to Figure 4 wherein the diagonalbrace member 134 is shown disconnected such that the outer end portionof the boom may be folded back over onto the platform of the sawmill soas to provide no unnecessary obstructions during transporting.

The outer extensions 128 are provided with upwardly angulated free endportions 138 which, when the elevator mechanism is in the loweredposition, as shown in dotted lines in Figure 2, are adapted to bedisposed horizontally with respect to the ground surface.

The extremities of the extensions 123 are angulated downwardly topresent the apron portions 140 whereby logs may be most easily skiddedupon the horizontal portion 138 thereof. 2

As will be seen most clearly in Figures and 6, a pair of depending legmembers 142 and 144 are secured to the undersurface of the cross-member124 and are provided at their lower ends with the sleeves 146 and 14,8receiving the pivot shaft 150 rigidly secured between a pair of thecross-frame members 16, there being provided a diagonal brace member 152between the central portion of the shaft 150 and the frame member 10. Adepending brace arm 154 is secured to the other frame member 12- and isprovided with bracket ears 156 thereon receiving a pin therebetweensecured to the piston rod 166 of the hydraulic jack assembly 162 suchthat the piston rod 164 extending from the opposite end of the jackassembly when pivotally connected as at 166 to the inner end of thebooms will impart pivotal motion thereto about the pivot shaft 156between the full and dotted line positions shown in Figure 2. The member154 may be suitably braced by a gusset plate member 168 and a peripheralstiffening strap 170.

It is to be noted that the portions 126 of the boom assembly which formthe elevator mechanism are disposed horizontally and flush with theupper surface of the carriage 26 when the elevator mechanism is in thefull line position shown in Figure 2, such that logs elevated onto theplatform by the elevator mechanism may be easily rolled off the elevatormechanism onto the carriage for engagement by the hydraulic dog members42 previously described.

From the foregoing, the construction and operation of the device will bereadily understood and further explanation is believed to beunnecessary. However, since numerous modifications and changes willreadily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limitthe invention to the exact construction shown and described, andaccordingly, all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resortedto, falling within the scope of the appended claims.

What is claimed as new is as follows:

1. In a portable sawmill, an elevated elongated platform, a frame onWhich said platform is supported, track members extending longitudinallyadjacent one side of said platform and supporting thereon a movableraised carriage which includes a horizontal surface and means forengaging logs to be sawed, an angular elongated elevator boom assemblypivotally mounted adjacent the other side of said platform, saidelevator boom assembly including a base portion adapted to be disposedhorizontal and adjacent the ground surface for receiving a log thereon,and an upper portion including means for pivotally mounting said boomassembly on the side of said elongated platform, said pivotally mountingmeans including a mounting bracket, a pivot pin connected to said frameand having said bracket mounted thereon, the upper portion of said boomassembly being operable to be pivoted to a substantially horizontalposition level with the horizontal surface of the raised carriage, andpower means connected between the upper portion of said boom assemblyand aportion of said frame that supports said elevated platform forpivoting said boom assembly between a position at which the base portionthereof is horizontal adjacent the ground surface to a position wherethe upper portion of the boom assembly is substantially horizontal andlevel with the horizontal surface of the raised carriage.

2. A portable sawmill as set forth in claim 1 wherein the upper portionof the boom assembly includes articulated sections for permittingsaidboom assembly to be folded during transport of the portable sawmill.

3. The sawmill of claim 1 wherein said platform has laterally openingnotchesin one side accommodating said mounting brackets, and openings insaid platform between one notch and said rails through which said powermeans passes.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS640,458 Farr Ian. 2, 1900 742,585 Butler Oct. 27, 1903 778,258. MartinDec. 27, 1904 1,441,851 Hartley Jan. 9, 1923 1,659,848 Wilson Feb. 21,1928 1,781,220 Ferris Nov. 11, 1930 2,377,236 Jackson May 29, 19452,418,726 Rogers Apr. 8, 1947 2 ,574,974 Johnson Nov. 13, 1951 2,633,879Andrus Apr. 7, 1953

